Expanding Into Solar O&M: A Profitable Move for PV Installers

Residential solar service and maintenance needs are expanding quickly as PV systems age, and more projects become orphaned when installers shut down. The U.S. crossed five million solar installations in May 2024 (a milestone tracked by SEIA and Wood Mackenzie), and SEIA estimates roughly 7% of U.S. homes have solar, so the installed base that needs long-term support keeps growing.

The solar sector has also stayed turbulent. After a wave of installer and finance disruptions in 2023–2024, 2025 brought more high-profile financial distress and bankruptcies in the residential ecosystem (including major names frequently discussed by contractors), which continues to create orphaned systems and unfinished projects that require professional remediation and ongoing operations and maintenance (O&M).

“Some orphaned solar systems have not received permission to operate (PTO) and haven’t been commissioned due to solar company closures,” explains Patrick McCabe, co-founder and president of GreenLancer. “This leaves homeowners in a difficult position, making loan payments on solar systems that provide no energy bill savings.”

GreenLancer has recognized this growing demand and established a dedicated O&M department to help address the increasing need for reliable solar maintenance and repair services. By leveraging a nationwide network of field service partners, GreenLancer efficiently completes solar O&M work across the U.S.

Meeting the Demand for Solar Maintenance & Repairs

Adding residential solar O&M to your service offerings can create a steady, repeatable revenue stream, especially as more systems age and more orphaned projects need to be finished. These aren’t theoretical opportunities. Incomplete installs still need commissioning and PTO remediation, and operating systems will eventually need troubleshooting, corrective work, and component replacements.

What this work looks like in the field

Most residential O&M isn’t panel cleaning. It’s practical service work that gets systems producing again. Common jobs include diagnosing sudden production drops, resolving monitoring and communications issues, replacing failed inverters or failed balance-of-system components, correcting wiring or labeling items that trigger inspection comments, and bringing “almost finished” installs across the finish line so they can pass final inspection and reach PTO.

PV systems are built to last, but parts do fail over time. Inverters are a common replacement item, and older installs can develop issues like loose terminations, damaged conductors, ground faults, nuisance trips, failed rapid shutdown components, or degraded connectors. When you can confidently service systems you didn’t install, your team becomes the solution for a growing segment of the market.

Why installers partner with GreenLancer for third-party O&M

Third-party service can get messy when the scope isn’t controlled. GreenLancer helps keep O&M work predictable with a structured intake process, clear job scopes, and standardized documentation expectations—so you’re not walking into a mystery. You stay focused on fieldwork while GreenLancer supports coordination and logistics, and our interconnection team can handle the utility paperwork when PTO remediation is part of the job.

Financiers who have invested in unfinished PV projects often step in to fund completion, which can create a consistent pipeline of service work. By joining the GreenLancer Field Service Provider network, you can take on defined O&M projects that help homeowners finally see the bill savings they expected—while building a service division that performs even when new-install volume slows.

The Business Case for Solar O&M Services

Most installer service departments are set up to handle warranty calls on systems you installed, which can keep customers happy but rarely drives real profit. The opportunity is expanding your service operation into paid solar O&M for third-party residential systems—work that doesn’t require a full sales cycle, new design work for every job, or long install timelines.

That’s why O&M can be especially attractive during seasonal slowdowns (winter months in many regions) or when permitting and supply chain delays create gaps in the installation schedule.

Why O&M stays strong when new installs soften

Even when interest rates rise or incentives shift, the installed base doesn’t go away. Existing PV systems still need help with diagnostics, inverter replacements, monitoring/communications issues, performance verification, and corrective electrical work. In other words, O&M demand tends to be less “boom-and-bust” than new installs because service needs are tied to equipment lifecycle and system performance, not just new customer acquisition.

Why many installers find O&M financially more beneficial than expected

Third-party O&M can be a dependable income source because you’re solving defined problems on systems that already exist. It can also reduce your marketing burden: you’re not paying to generate leads for every job. When the scope is clear and the documentation is consistent, service work becomes repeatable—dispatch, diagnose, repair, document, close.

The human side matters too

There’s also a real personal dimension to this work. Homeowners with unfinished or abandoned systems may be making loan payments without seeing the energy bill savings they were promised. When a qualified contractor steps in to get a stranded system to a safe, producing baseline, often including commissioning and PTO remediation, it doesn’t just help one customer. It helps rebuild trust in solar in that community.

GreenLancer Solar O&M Solutions

Solar O&M with GreenLancer covers the work homeowners and asset owners need most as systems age and more projects become orphaned. That includes completion work to get stalled installs to commissioning and PTO, plus troubleshooting and repairs like inverter faults, monitoring and communications issues, production drops, and corrective electrical work. GreenLancer has a dedicated interconnection team, so field service providers don’t have to manage utility paperwork when PTO remediation is part of the job.

What you’ll typically see in the field

GreenLancer providers work across major inverter and MLPE brands, so familiarity with different platforms and commissioning workflows is important. Jobs often require strong fundamentals: verifying safe shutdown, confirming equipment labeling, checking terminations and protection devices, isolating faults, and documenting findings clearly. Preventive maintenance also matters for long-term reliability—basic inspections and performance checks that help catch issues before they become expensive failures.

How GreenLancer keeps third-party O&M organized

Third-party service can turn into guesswork when the original install documentation is missing. GreenLancer helps keep projects predictable with standardized job intake, clear scopes, and consistent documentation requirements. That means fewer surprises on site and smoother closeouts after the work is complete.

Joining the GreenLancer Field Services Provider Network

GreenLancer seeks skilled field service providers who demonstrate strong communication, competitive pricing, and are licensed solar contractors. While additional manufacturer or NABCEP certifications are beneficial, a valid contractor license is the primary requirement. Solar installation companies licensed in multiple states can gain access to more job opportunities. 

Support that helps you stay focused on the field

GreenLancer’s platform streamlines project coordination—scheduling, job details, reporting, and closeout documentation—so you spend less time chasing logistics. Standardized processes and quality control help ensure projects move smoothly and meet expectations.

Field service providers are paired with a dedicated coordinator who supports the workflow end-to-end, helps resolve questions quickly, and keeps communication moving so you can focus on delivering quality field service work.

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Plus, we’re looking for SunPower-certified installers nationwide.

The GreenLancer Approach to Solar O&M Fulfillment

GreenLancer’s onboarding process for O&M service providers begins with completing a form on this webpage. Once approved, and field service providers are needed in a given area, providers go through a platform training session. This session covers navigating the GreenLancer platform, payment processes, and workflow expectations. 

After onboarding, GreenLancer assigns each provider a coordinator to offer ongoing support. Field service providers then submit bids on projects.

Final Thoughts: Embracing Solar O&M for Long-Term Growth

It’s normal for technicians to hesitate before servicing systems they didn’t install. Documentation can be incomplete, workmanship can vary, and homeowners may be frustrated after long delays. But when you build a structured O&M capability—strong troubleshooting fundamentals, consistent documentation, and clear scope control—third-party service work can become a reliable path to growth.

Offering solar O&M for third-party residential arrays helps your company generate steady revenue, keep crews productive during slower install periods, and earn a reputation as the contractor that can solve hard problems. It also helps stranded homeowners finally get the production and bill savings they expected.

“I worked for a Michigan solar company before joining GreenLancer, and our service department was operating at a loss,” explains Drew Duncanson, now field services coordinator for GreenLancer. 

“All the money was being made in new installations. That all changed pretty quickly when we partnered with GreenLancer, and the service department became profitable. GreenLancer introduced us to third-party work and we got comfortable working on systems we didn’t install.”

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